St. Landry democrat., 1887-07-14
keRNSTOWN OR WINCHESTER.

As frequently happened in the fights of the
civil war, the Confederates designated the bat
tie of March 23 by one name the Federals by
another. In the north it is known as the bat
tie of Winchester, in the south as the battle
of Kernstown
Shields, to deceive Jackson, concealed
mest of his division in an out of the way spot
two miles from Winchester. A small guard
was left in that village March % Turner
Ashby's cavalry came galloping into Win
chester in pur,alt of Shields. They drove
back his pickets. Apparently there was only
. a small rear guard of Union troops at VIM
chester. There was a sharp attack, which
was repelled by the Federals, but the much
SCARED veteran Shields was wounded again;
fragment of shell broke his arm
Gen Banks had remained with Shields
division up to this time. But the morning Of
March %, feeling certain that Stonewall
jackson would not attack, he started to
Washington. Shields thought differently,
however, and with his broken arm i'll sling
made ready for the battle of Winchester
At 2 O'Clock Jackson came up with his
whole force, colors flying. He stopped at
Kernstown, three miles south of Winchester.
Ashby had encamped there with his cavalry
after the skirnlish Of the day before. Shields
force was upon ridge not far from kerns-
town, though Jackson did not know how
large it was. His men were wearied out with
marching, but he ordered an immediate and
hot attack on Shields right upon the ridge
near Kernstown. He hoped to sever Shields
line and cut him off from Winchester
Jacksou's men charged up the ridge with
great spirit, and were met with a vigorous
artillery fire. Shields managed to hold the
Confederates off till he had brought his re-
serves into line; then he attacked with his
whole force.
There was fierce fight of three hours, and
then the battle of Winchester or kernstown
was over. Stonewall Jackson was defeated.
He lost two guns and 700 men in killed,
wounded and prisoners. Shields lost 544 ac
cording to the record.
Next day the citizens of Winchester, headed
by the mayor, came out to bury the Con-
federate dead who had been lying where they
fell upon the bloody field. A deep, wide pit
was dug, ana there III one common grave
several hundred dead men in gray were
buried. The southern writer, Pollard, says:
Scarcely family in the country but had
relative there
Banks returned at once from Washington
and set off III pursuit of Jackson, who had re,
treated rapidly, leaving dead and wounded
behind. Banks pursued thirty miles, till bis
men were too exhausted to go farther. He
stopped at Woodstock to rest. Jackson con-
tinued retreating till he came to Harrison
burg, where he remained till April 10, en-
deavoring to recover himself after the battle
of Kernstown.
It was a severe Confederate defeat at
Kernstown. But there was no loss Of enthu.
siasm for jackson among his wearied and
fleeing men.
"Why is Old jack q better general than
MosesF' asked one of his soldiers, conundrum
fashion. Answer: Because it took Moses
forty years to lead the Israelites through the
wilderness, and Old Jack would have double
quicked them through in three days.
April 19 Jackson crossed the south fork OF
the Shenandoah. He was thus within easy
reach Of Johnston at Gordonsville.